Blood taking instrument



July 28, 1942. M. s. BOOYE ET AL BLOOD TAKING INSTRUMENT Filed June 19, 1941 IN VEN TOR.

Y BY

ATI'DRN EYS Patented July 28, 1942 s PATENT OFFICE BLOOl TAKING INSTRUMENT Mildred S.

Booye and Job S. Sheppard,

Northfield, N. J.

Application June 19, 1941, Serial No. 398,834

1 Claim.

Our invention relates to surgical instruments, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved blood taking instrument.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a stopper part and vacuum release employed in the instrument.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, the instrument comprises a glass vial l constituting a receptacle for blood to be taken from the patient. This vial has a rounded bottom end l2 and is of uniform diameter with its other end open [for connection with a rubber stopper l4. Figure 2 illustrates the normal contour of the stopper l4 as it appears before being inserted in the vial. Approximately half the length of the stopper comprises a shank l6 which tapers slightly in the direction of its free end to facilitate insertion in the vial. However, the shank is slightly larger in diameter than the inside diameter of the vial so as to fit tightly therein for connecting purposes as well as to provide an .air seal.

Intermediate the ends of the stopper I4 is provided a flange l8 which has a shoulder engageable with the end of the vial l0 when the stopper is pushed home. This flange curves slightly in the direction of the base of a shank 22 of slightly smaller diameter than the shank l6. Shank 22 also tapers slightly in the direction of its free end, and a bore 24 extends longitudinally throughout the full length of the stopper for reception of a glass vacuum release 26. This vacuum release comprises a glass tube having an open end communicating with the vial l0 and has a uniform diameter length 28 constricted at one end to provide a fragile stem 30 having a sealed end 32. The stem 30 tapers very slightly toward the seal 32 and is separated from the length 28 by an abrupt circumferential concavity 34 which reduces the stem to a relatively small diameter at its base.

With the stopper I4 properly connected with the vial l0, air is evacuated from the vial and the vacuum release 26 is sealed at 32. The bore 24 in the stopper is of originally smaller diameter than the outside diameter of the length 28 so as to provide an airtight connection between the vacuum release and the stopper, which is also true of the connection between the stopper and the vial. A short extent of the length 28 extends beyond the shank 22 for connection with a rubber sleeve 36. The other end of the rubber sleeve 36 is slipped over the open end of a short glass tube 38 constituting a mount for the hypoderzmic needle 40. This needle is secured in the end wall 42 of the glass tube 38, this glass tube functioning as a transparent extension of, or window for, the hypodermic needle.

A stylet 44 is inserted in the needle 40 and has a hook 46 which facilitates removal, in addition to acting on the end of the needle to prevent falling of the stylet into the tubular structure of the instrument. A protective closure comprising a glass tube 48 is provided for the hypodermic needle. Tube 48 is closed at one end and its other end is inserted over the shank 22, which shank is of slightly larger outside diameter than the inside diameter of the tube so as to provide a tight fit for securing purposes as well as to prevent the entrance of moisture, as when the instrument as a whole is being sterilized.

Figure 1 illustrates the shank l6 as being provided with a shallow bore 50 of slightly larger diameter than the outside diameter of the length 28. This bore lends additional flexibility and constrictive properties to this end of the shank Hi to facilitate insertion in the vial I0, particularly in the event that the length 28 is inserted in the .bore 24 to the .point where its lower end terminates flush or is extended beneath the end of the shank.

In operation, the closure 48 is pulled off the shank 22 and the stylet 44 removed. The needle 40 is then inserted in the vein, and blood will appear in the tube 38 so as to indicate proper positioning of the needle. The stem 30 is then broken inside the rubber sleeve 36 between the thumb and the forefinger. Such breaking of the stem 30 places the vial I0 in communication with the rubber sleeve 36 and the hypodermic needle, with the result that the vial will instantly fill with blood.

Because of the abrupt concavity 34, the stem 30 is quickly reduced to a relatively small diameter to facilitate breaking thereof, which eliminates the necessity of a stem of considerable length if fashioned with a gentle taper. Easy fracture of the stem 30 is of paramount importance, since any difiiculty in breaking such stem with the needle inserted in the patients arm will cause the needle to be jerked out of the vein and may cause extreme pain. Accidental breaking of the stem with consequent withdrawal of the needle causes the vial ill to lose its vacuum and necessitates the use of another vacuum release and vial combination and repeated insertion in the patients vein, which is objectionable to both the patient and the doctor.

The flange l8 provides a formation facilitating insertion of the shank IS in the vial I0, and the stopper includes a shank formation for the tube 48. The stopper is of such size and fit with respect to the vial I0 and the vacuum release 30 as to provide an effective air seal. The stylet 44 insures clear passage, and the needle mount 38 is transparent to denote proper insertion of the needle 40. The tube 48 provides a. dustproof enclosure for the needle, while the shank IS has a tight fit in the vial ID. The stopper l4 may be easily removed when the contents of the vial are to be removed. The instrument operates in a simple and positive manner and is conveniently manipulated with one hand.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate our invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

We claim:

A blood taking instrument comprising a vacuum vial; a resilient stopper having a first shank frictionally receivable in said vial and a second shank, said stopper having a flange of larger diameter than the vial separating one shank from the other and'having engagement with an end of the vial when the stopper is pressed home a fragile vacuum release extending through said stopper axially of said shanks and communicating with the vial; a hypodermic needle; a flexible conduit connecting the hypodermic needle .with said vacuum release; said vacuum release comprising, when broken, a condruit placing the hypodermic needle in communication with the vial; and a tubular cover having an open end for frictional reception of said second shank to enclose said hypodermic needle and said flexible conduit.

JOB S. SHEPPARD. MILDRED S. BOOYE. 

